Game



Dec. 26, 1939. w c, n sco I 2,185,055

GAME

Filed Jan. 21, 1939 Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED STAThd EFTENTF OFFHCE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a game and it is one object to provide a game apparatus which is particularly adapted for use in outdoor play grounds but may be manufactured in miniature size for indoor use upon a floor.

At the present time, nearly all communities have playgrounds for use by children after school hours and during vacation seasons when schools are not in session. The children soon become tired of playing the same games and it is, therefore, another object of the invention to provide a game which will be entertaining and attractive to both large and small children and adults.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus which is not only entertaining but also instructive, as it consists of a number of targets adapted to be removably suspended from supports and knocked from the supports by balls or similar projectiles, the targets having scoring values marked thereon which, when added, will provide a score. It will thus be seen that a small child, by playing the game, will learn addition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game which in some respects resembles the game of croquet but includes, in addition to the balls and wickets, a number of targets adapted to be suspended from cross bars of the wickets and knocked therefrom by the balls which are driven toward the wickets by the mallets employed. The positions occupied by the wickets when set up are also different from the positions occupied by the wickets in a game of croquet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus which is of simple construction, very durable, and capable of manufacture at small cost.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one of the wickets set up in position foruse with a target suspended therefrom and a ball in position for use to roll toward the wicket and knock the target therefrom.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the wicket and target.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the target.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

This game apparatus is for playing a game known as Sokblok and consists of a plurality of wickets which are adapted to be mounted in upright position, a corresponding number of targets adapted to be loosely suspended from upper cross bars of the wickets, a number of balls, and

the thickness of the block of material from which mallets for striking the balls and causing them to roll toward the wickets and strike the suspended targets, the targets, when struck, being swung upwardly about the cross bars of the wickets to a position in which they will drop therefrom.

Preferably, twelve wickets and targets are provided and four balls and mallets, but it is to be understood that the number mentioned is arbitrary and any number desired may be provided. 39 As the wickets and targets are of duplicate construction, only one set has been illustrated and there has also been shown one ball. The mallet for driving the ball toward the target is not illustrated, as a mallet of the type used for playing croquet will be employed.

The wicket l is formed from a strand of strong wire and this wire strand is bent to provide a wicket having an upper cross bar 2 and side arms 3 which may have pointed lower ends and are of such length that they may be embedded in the ground, as shown in Fig. 2. If a miniature set is being manufactured for indoor use upon a floor, the lower end portions of the side arms will be bent to provide feet for engaging a base and supporting the wicket in. an upright position. The target 4 is suspended from the wicket and is preferably cut from wood of sufiicient thickness, although it may be formed of metal or other material, as desired. The block or plate constituting the target is so cut that its outline substantially conforms to a persons figure, the upper end portion 5 being substantially circular to form the head and the remainder of the block constituting the body and legs. The front surface of the block or target is painted or otherwise marked to provide a fanciful representation of a persons face and clothing, the arms being shown at 6 and the legs '5 being defined by the upwardly converging lines 8. It is to be understood that any figure desired. may be substituted in lieu of a human figure, but the upper portion of the block or target should be of reduced width to provide a head or equivalent member.- It should also be noted that the width of the target is such that when it is suspended from the cross bar 2 of the wicket, its side edges are spaced from the side arms 3 thereof, so that swinging movement of the target will not be interfered with.

Across the rear surface of the lower portion of the head 5 is formed a groove 9. This groove extends the full width of the head, as shown in Fig. 3, and is cut forwardly at an upward incline, as shown in Fig. 4, to approximately midway the target is formed. Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the dimensions of the groove permit it to loosely receive the cross bar of the wicket. Therefore, the target will be free to swing about the cross bar from the depending position shown, to a raised position, and when the target is in its raised position, it will readily drop by gravity from the wicket and fall upon the ground or other playing surface. The location and inclination of the groove is such that when the cross bar of the wicket is engaged therein, the cross bar will extend transversely through the head 5 slightly below a point midway the upper and lower ends of the head. Therefore, the weight of the body will maintain the target in an upright position and unless the lower end portion of the target is struck with sufiicient force to swing it upwardly to a position substantially over the bar, the target will remain in engagement with the wicket and swing back to its initial position. The ball H3 may be formed of Wood or any other desired material and, while it is preferably three inches in diameter, it may be of any diameter desired consistent with the size and weight of the target toward which it is to be driven.

When the game is played, the wickets are set up in a line spaced a desired distance from the point from which the balls are to be driven or the wickets may be set up scattered or grouped. A target is suspended from the cross bar of each wicket and attention is called to the fact that each target bears upon its rear face a number, as shown in Figure 3 and indicated by the numeral II. Since there are twelve wickets and targets to the game set, the targets will be numbered from 1 to 12 and they may be hung upon the wickets in consecutive order or mounted at random in engagement with the wickets With their front faces presented toward the starting line or point. The balls are placed upon the ground at the starting line or point and are driven toward the wickets by the players. The balls when struck by the mallets, roll along the ground and when a ball strikes a target and knocks it from the wicket, this counts a credit for the player who drove the ball toward the targets. The numbers marked upon the backs of the targets count as scoring points and the number of targets knocked from the wickets will also count in his favor. Skill is required to accurately drive the ball and cause it to strike a target in such a manner that the target will swing upwardly and. drop from the cross bar of the wicket.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a game apparatus including a support having an upper cross bar and depending side arms to maintain the support in an upright position, a target consisting of a body having front and rear faces and having its upper portion shaped to form a head, a groove being formed across the rear face of said body near the bottom of said head, said groove being open at its lower end and extending forwardly at an upward incline to provide a seat for receiving the cross bar of the support and detachably suspending the target from the support.

2. In a game apparatus including a wicket of V inverted substantially 'U-shape formation, a target consisting of a body having on its front surface a representation of a figure and upon its rear surface a scoring number, said target being provided in spaced relation to its upper end with a seat opening through the rear face of the targetand extending transversely across its rear surface and extending forwardly at an upward incline, the upper cross bar of said wicket being of dimensions adapting it to be loosely received in said seat and removably suspend the target from the wicket.

3. In a game apparatus including a support having an upper cross bar; a target provided with a transverse seat to loosely receive the cross bar of the support, the seat extending forwardly at an upward incline and being open towards the rear of the target and unobstructed at its lower end and serving to removably suspend the target from the cross bar and allow the target to drop from the cross bar onto the ground when swung about the bar from one position to another.

WILMER C. DRISCOLL. 

